IMPRESS. [Book 1]

Chapter Forty-Four: Masquerade Ball Part 1.

IMPRESS.

Chapter Forty-Four: Masquerade Ball.

PART 1

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[Next Morning]

"So how was the date with the devil aka my beloved brother?" Cathryn rolled her eyes whilst swallowing blood from her rose gold chalice.

My bedroom was currently occupied by men and women who were repairing and tidying the damage done when I was allegedly "dead."

And because of that reason, this morning when I woke up after a horrendous end to last night's dinner date, I was called to get ready in the princess' bedroom.

Rumour had it that tonight was going to be the night of the Masquerade Ball. Meaning I don't think I will be seeing much of my brother until later, he never is around when the castle hosts a special event.

Tonight was special in terms of welcoming the King of the Shadowlands, Preston.

And I have a feeling Zac will be approaching me sometime today to prepare me for our negotiation with the king of shadows.

I don't know what he will want me to do but whatever it is, it won't work with Preston. Especially after the witches had already used me as part of their negotiation with him.

"The beginning was romantic I have to say," I admit searching for a dress in Cathryn's large closet, one I could wear tonight and impress Preston with, "there were rose petals and love letters scattered all the way from my bedroom to the gardens, imagine."

Cathryn widened her eyes in sudden realisation, "no wonder he forbid anyone from exiting their rooms after 7, he didn't want any of us to see what he was doing..."

"I don't understand why he would rather act like an arrogant prick instead of the opposite in front of people, what is he so afraid of?"

It was a question I asked more to myself than to Cathryn, but she answered anyway, "his afraid of people taking advantage of him and using his kindness as weakness."

Her response made me pause from looking through the endless rail of dresses and my hand went to the hip of my satin, white kimono.

"Who would do that?"

Cathryn sighed, "people desperate to steal our title as royals and of course, the crown."

"People like the Shadow King?" I arched my eyebrow and she sent me a weird look whilst nodding her head. "Yeah, people like him."

I thought for a moment only to be snapped out of it, "but anyway continue on with the story..." Cathryn excitedly waved her hand my way and I turned back to her closet.

Tapping my chin, wondering which dress to pick, I continued the story, "and well, the love letters revealed how I make him feel."

"Really?" Cathryn gasped.

"- Yeah, he also apologised for I quote being a 'fool' with a temper he fails to control," I sucked in my cheeks whilst analysing a dark blue dress shaped in a way that the front was shorter than the back, leaving extra see-through material trailing from behind.